Database Partitioning by Virtual Partitions

ABSTRACT

A database may be virtually partitioned into virtual partitions. The virtual partitions are mapped to physical databases of a database. Data records added to the database are each assigned to a virtual partition and stored in the physical database mapped to the assigned virtual partition. The identifier generated for a data record includes an identifier of the assigned virtual partition. When additional databases are created, virtual partitions are remapped to the larger space of physical databases.

RELATED CASES

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/437,598, filed May 18, 2006, entitled “Database Partitioning byVirtual Partitions,” which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed embodiments relate generally to databases, and moreparticularly, to methods and systems for partitioning a database.

BACKGROUND

Modern enterprises accumulate a large amount of information. Much ofthat information is stored in databases. As the information in theseenterprises continues to accumulate, the databases grow as well.

One way to deal with a growing database is to partition the database andto store the database partitions in multiple physical databases (e.g.,in multiple computers). As the database grows further, it may be furtherpartitioned and additional physical databases maybe deployed. Whenpartitioning a database, keeping data that is frequently accessedtogether or that frequently refers to each other in the same partitionis one way to improve the performance of the database after thepartitioning. Current partitioning techniques, however, often achievethis by moving data after the partitioning. Not only is this slow, italso makes maintenance of consistency in the database difficult.

Accordingly, there is a need for a more efficient way to partition adatabase.

SUMMARY

In accordance with some embodiments, a method involves logicallypartitioning a database into a plurality of virtual partitions andmapping each of the virtual partitions to a respective one of aplurality of physical databases, the plurality of physical databasestogether forming the database. At least two of the virtual partitionsare mapped to a same one of the physical databases. The method alsoinvolves inserting a plurality of data records into the database,including assigning each of the plurality of data records to arespective one of the plurality of virtual partitions; and storing eachof the plurality of data records in the respective one of the pluralityof physical databases to which the corresponding one of the virtualpartitions is mapped.

In accordance with some embodiments, a method of adding a data record toa database having a plurality of virtual partitions, where each virtualpartition is mapped to one of a plurality of physical databases,includes generating an identifier for the data record, wherein theidentifier includes an identifier identifying one of the plurality ofvirtual partitions, and storing the data record in a respective physicaldatabase to which the identified virtual partition is mapped.

In accordance with some embodiments, a system includes memory, one ormore processors, and a program, wherein the program is stored in thememory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors. Theprogram includes instructions for logically partitioning a database intoa plurality of virtual partitions; instructions for mapping each of thevirtual partitions to a respective one of a plurality of physicaldatabases, the plurality of physical databases together forming thedatabase, wherein at least two of the virtual partitions are mapped to asame one of the physical databases; instructions for inserting aplurality of data records into the database, including assigning each ofthe plurality of data records to a respective one of the plurality ofvirtual partitions; and instructions for storing each of the pluralityof data records in the respective one of the plurality of physicaldatabases to which the corresponding virtual partition is mapped.

In accordance with some embodiments, a system includes one or morephysical databases, each having one or more of a plurality of virtualpartitions of a database mapped to it, memory, one or more processors,and a program. The program, which is stored in the memory and configuredto be executed by the one or more processors, includes instructions forgenerating an identifier for a data record, wherein the identifierincludes an identifier identifying one of the plurality of virtualpartitions, and instructions for storing the data record in a respectivephysical database to which the identified virtual partition is mapped.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer program product for usein conjunction with a computer system includes a computer readablestorage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein. Thecomputer program mechanism includes instructions for logicallypartitioning a database into a plurality of virtual partitions;instructions for mapping each of the virtual partitions to a respectiveone of a plurality of physical databases, the plurality of physicaldatabases together forming the database, wherein at least two of thevirtual partitions are mapped to a same one of the physical databases;instructions for inserting a plurality of data records into thedatabase, including assigning each of the plurality of data records to arespective one of the plurality of virtual partitions; and instructionsfor storing each of the plurality of data records in the respective oneof the plurality of physical databases to which the correspondingvirtual partition is mapped.

In accordance with some embodiments, a system includes means forlogically partitioning a database into a plurality of virtualpartitions; means for mapping each of the virtual partitions to arespective one of a plurality of physical databases, the plurality ofphysical databases together forming the database, wherein at least twoof the virtual partitions are mapped to a same one of the physicaldatabases; means for inserting a plurality of data records into thedatabase, including means for assigning each of the plurality of datarecords to a respective one of the plurality of virtual partitions; andmeans for storing each of the plurality of data records in therespective one of the plurality of physical databases to which thecorresponding virtual partition is mapped.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a computer network that includesa database management system in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the partitioning of aphysical database in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating physical databases of adatabase and corresponding table portions in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for partitioning adatabase in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for assigning datarecords to virtual partitions in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data record identifier in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a virtual partition to physicaldatabase mapping in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a last data record table in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a physical database computer in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates a server computer in accordance with someembodiments.

Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout thedrawings.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A database may be partitioned into virtual partitions. Data recordsinserted into the database are assigned to a virtual partition. Eachvirtual partition is associated with and mapped to a physical database.Data records assigned to a virtual partition are stored in the physicaldatabase to which the virtual partition is mapped. As additionalphysical databases for the database are created, virtual partitions maybe remapped to different physical databases and the data records may bestored at different physical databases in accordance with the updatedmapping.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a computer network that includesa database management system in accordance with some embodiments. Thecomputer network 100 includes one or more clients 102 and a databasemanagement system (DBMS) 106. One or more communications networks 104may interconnect these components. The communications network 104 may beany of a variety of networks, including local area networks (LAN), widearea networks (WAN), wireless networks, wireline networks, the Internet,or a combination of such networks.

A client 102 queries for and receives data from the DBMS 106. The client102 may be any computer or other device that is capable of communicatingwith the DBMS 106. Examples include, without limitation, desktop andnotebook computers, mainframe computers, server computers, mobiledevices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants, networkterminals, and set-top boxes.

The database management system (DBMS) 106 stores a database and providesdata from the database to other computers. The DBMS 106 includes one ormore servers 108 and one or more physical databases 110. The servers 108act as the front end of the DBMS 106. The servers 108 receive requestsfor data from clients 102, retrieve the requested data from the physicaldatabases 110, and return the requested data to the client 102. In someembodiments, the servers 108 provide a Web-based interface through whichdata requests may be made and the requested data may be displayed. Theinternal structure of the DBMS 106 is transparent to the client 102;from the viewpoint of the client 102, the DBMS 106 is one database, evenif there are multiple physical databases 110.

The data of the DBMS database is stored in the physical databases 110.The DBMS 106 may have one or more physical databases 110. The number ofphysical databases 110 may vary depending on the amount of data storedin the DBMS 106. As the amount of data increases, the number of physicaldatabases 110 in the DBMS 106 may be increased.

As used herein, a database is a collection of data records. A physicaldatabase is the whole database, or a portion thereof, as defined by itsphysical location, e.g., a particular computer, server, or non-volatilememory device. For example, a database may be divided into two portionsand each portion stored at a respective computer. The portions on thetwo computers are the two physical databases of the database. In someembodiments, a physical database may be viewed as a database as well; aphysical database is a database within the overall database, comprisingat least a subset of data records from the overall database

A database may be logically or virtually partitioned into virtualpartitions. The virtual partitions are groupings of the data records inthe database, where the groupings are formed based on predefined rulesor criteria. Each virtual partition is associated with and mapped to asingle physical database at any moment, and may be remapped to adifferent physical database as additional physical databases arecreated. All data records within a virtual partition are stored in thephysical database to which the virtual partition is mapped. A physicaldatabase can store data records belonging to one or more virtualpartitions that are mapped to the physical database.

As described above, the database is a collection of data records. Asused herein, a data record is a single data item within the database. Anexample of a data record is a row in a table in a relational database.In some embodiments, the data records may be organized as tables, as ina relational database. For example, in a database of customer data andtransactions by customers, there may be a table of customer records anda table of transaction records. In some circumstances a data record mayinclude a file, such as an image file, document file or the like that isreferenced by an entry in a table of the database.

In some embodiments, the data records include primary and secondary datarecords. A primary data record is a data record that is not dependent onanother data record; the primary data record is typically the first datarecord of a set of related data records to be produced or stored, andthus is the first data record of the set to be assigned a location inthe database. A secondary or subsidiary data record is a data recordthat is dependent on or refers to, and is associated with a primary datarecord. The secondary data record refers to a primary data record and isassociated with that primary data record. For example, in an exemplarydatabase of customer data and transactions by customers, a customer datarecord is a primary data record. A customer data record is independentof other customer records and is not associated with or dependent onother data records. On the other hand, transaction records are secondarydata records, wherein each transaction record is associated with aparticular customer, namely the particular customer that engaged in thetransaction.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the partitioning of anexemplary physical database in accordance with some embodiments. Aphysical database 202-1 in a DBMS may have a plurality of virtualdatabase partitions 204-1 thru 204-8 associated with and mapped to it.Any data record that is assigned to these virtual partitions 204-1 thru204-8 is stored in the physical database 202-1. As the database grows,additional physical databases may be created within the DBMS. Some ofthe data that is stored in the physical database 202-1 is dividedamongst the additional physical databases. For example, with twophysical databases 202-1 and 202-2, virtual partitions 202-4 thru 202-8are remapped to physical database 202-2 and data in these virtualpartitions are stored in physical database 202-2.

As the database grows further, additional physical databases 202-3 and202-4 may be created. The virtual partitions 204-3 and 204-4 areremapped to physical database 202-3, and virtual partitions 204-7 and204-8 are remapped to physical database 202-4. Data records of thesevirtual partitions are stored in physical databases 202-3 and 202-4based on the updated remapping of virtual partitions. The dividing andremapping may continue until there is a one-to-one correspondencebetween virtual partitions and physical databases.

In some embodiments, “moving” data records from a first to a secondphysical database involves copying the entire set of data records storedat the first physical database to the second physical database, and thenremoving the unassociated data records at the first physical databaseand the second physical database. For example, say that two data recordsDR1 and DR2, each assigned to different virtual partitions, are storedat a physical database A. A new physical database B is created and thevirtual partition to which DR2 is associated is newly associated withphysical database B. To “move” DR2 to physical database B, both DR1 andDR2 are copied to physical database B. DR1 is removed at physicaldatabase B and DR2 is removed at physical database A. As a result, DR2is now stored at physical database B and is no longer stored at physicaldatabase A, and vice versa for DR1.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the physical databases of adatabase and corresponding portions of database tables in accordancewith some embodiments. A database 300 may have N physical databases DB-0thru DB-(N−1) (302-1 thru 302-3). The database 300 may also bepartitioned into virtual partitions 0-m. The data records of thedatabase are organized as one or more tables A-L (304, 306, 308). Thedatabase also includes a last record identifier table 310. The lastrecord identifier table 310 tracks the next available record identifier(or last used record identifier) values per virtual partition per table.Further details regarding the last record identifier table are describedbelow, in relation to FIG. 8.

The tables 304, 306, 308 and the last record identifier table 310 areall partitioned into virtual partitions. More particularly, the datarecords in the 304, 306, 308 and the last record identifier table 310are assigned to virtual partitions, and thus the tables are partitionedbased on the assignment of the data records to the virtual partitions.Table partitions 304-1, 306-1, 308-1 assigned to virtual partitions 0thru i, i.e. data records in the tables 304, 306, 308 that are assignedto virtual partitions 0 thru i, are stored in physical database DB-0(302-1). Table partitions 304-2, 306-2, 308-2 assigned to virtualpartitions i+1 thru j, i.e., data records in the tables 304, 306, 308that are assigned to virtual partitions i+1 thru j, are stored inphysical database DB-1 (302-2). Table partitions 304-3, 306-3, 308-3assigned to virtual partitions k+1 thru m, i.e., data records in thetables 304, 306, 308 that are assigned to virtual partitions k+1 thru m,are stored in physical database DB-(N−1) (302-3).

The last record identifier table 310 is also stored in a similar manner:records 310-1 of the last record identifier table that are trackingvirtual partitions 0 thru i are stored in physical database DB-0(302-1). Records 310-2 of the last record identifier table that aretracking virtual partitions i+1 thru j are stored in physical databaseDB-1 (302-2). Records 310-3 of the last record identifier table that aretracking virtual partitions k+1 thru m are stored in physical databaseDB-(N−1) (302-3).

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for partitioning adatabase in accordance with some embodiments. Process flow 400 describesa process for virtually partitioning a database and storing data recordsassigned to the virtual partitions in physical databases.

The database is logically partitioned into a plurality of virtualpartitions (402). Data records are inserted into the database and eachdata record is assigned to a virtual partition (404). The virtualpartitioning of the database is achieved by allocating record identifiervalues to data records in a particular manner. A segment of the recordidentifier value is dedicated to identifying the assigned virtualpartition. When a data record is inserted into the database, a value isset in accordance with predefined rules or criteria for the segment ofthe identifier that identifies the virtual partition. In other words,the database is partitioned by “tagging” the data records with theidentifiers of the virtual partitions to which they have been assigned.Further details regarding the generation of record identifier values aredescribed below in relation to FIG. 5.

The number of virtual partitions in the database is defined in advanceand is reflected in the size of the virtual partition identifier segmentof the record identifier. In some embodiments, the number is definedbased on an estimate of the size of the database and anticipated futuregrowth of the database.

Each virtual partition is associated with and mapped to a physicaldatabase (406). The mapping may be arbitrary or in accordance with apredefined rule. For example, virtual partitions may be distributedamongst the physical databases in round-robin order, by a modulus-basedscheme, or any other suitable predefined association scheme. Each datarecord is stored in the physical database to which the associatedvirtual partition (i.e., the virtual partition to which the data recordbelongs) is mapped (408).

It should be appreciated that any data record that is inserted to thedatabase, at any point in the life of the database, is assigned to avirtual partition that is active at that point and stored in an activephysical database to which the assigned virtual partition is mapped,regardless of when the data record is inserted.

Additional physical databases are created within the database and thedatabase is divided amongst the increased number of physical databases(410). Whenever the database grows sufficiently large, additionalphysical databases may be created and the data records of the databaseare divided amongst the existing and new physical databases; thedatabase is divided into more and more physical databases as it grows.The virtual partitions are remapped to the post-division physicaldatabases (406) and the data records are stored in accordance with theupdated virtual partition-physical database mappings (408). As thedatabase grows further, further divisions may be performed (410), thevirtual partitions are remapped (406), and the data records are storedin the physical databases in accordance with the updated mappings (408).The process of dividing the database into physical databases, mappingvirtual partitions to physical databases, and storing the data recordscontinues up to when there is a one-to-one correspondence betweenvirtual partitions and physical databases, i.e., there is exactly onevirtual partition mapped to each physical database and each physicaldatabase is mapped to a different virtual partition, and the datarecords are stored in accordance with the one-to-one correspondence.However, in some embodiments, the total number of virtual partitions maybe increased, further details of which are described below in relationto FIG. 6.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a process 500 for assigning datarecords to virtual partitions in accordance with some embodiments. Theprocess for assigning a data record to a virtual partition differsslightly depending on whether the data record is a primary or secondarydata record. If the data record is a primary data record (502—Primary),the data record is assigned to a virtual partition (504). In someembodiments, the assignment of a virtual partition is performed in around-robin order. For example, if there are 3 virtual partitions, datarecords are assigned one at a time to the virtual partitions as they areinserted into the database, first to the first partition, then to thesecond partition, then to the third partition, then back to the firstpartition again, and so forth. In some other embodiments, the datarecord is assigned a virtual partition randomly or pseudo-randomly. Inyet other embodiments, the data records are assigned to virtualpartitions in accordance with a load balancing strategy, with newprimary data records being assigned to virtual partitions having thelowest loads.

If the data record is a secondary data record (502—Secondary), then theprimary data record with which the secondary data record is associatedis identified (506). In some embodiments, the identifier of theassociated primary data record is included in the secondary data recorditself. The secondary data record is assigned to the virtual partitionto which the associated primary data record is assigned (508). In someembodiments, this includes extracting the virtual partition identifiersegment from the identifier of the associated primary data record andusing that as the virtual partition identifier value in the identifierof the secondary data record. By assigning the secondary data record tothe same virtual partition as that assigned to the primary data record,the assignment process ensures that the primary record and theassociated secondary record are stored in the same physical database.

The assignment of a virtual partition to a data record is permanent; thedata record is associated with the same virtual partition for the entirelife of the data record. The data record is not reassigned to adifferent virtual partition, even as the database is divided amongincreasing numbers of physical databases. As a result, the recordidentifier of a record is also permanent and does not change.

A record identifier is generated for the data record (510). The recordidentifier includes a segment that identifies the assigned virtualpartition and a segment for a sequentially allocated value. The virtualpartition identifier segment is set in accordance with the virtualpartition that is assigned as described above. The sequentiallyallocated value is set to the next available sequential value within thetable-virtual partition to which the data record is assigned. The nextavailable sequential value is derived from the last record identifiertable, further details of which are described below in relation to FIG.8. The data record is stored in the physical database to which theassigned virtual partition is mapped (512).

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data record identifier in accordancewith some embodiments. The record identifier 600 is an exemplaryidentifier of a data record in a database. In some embodiments, therecord identifier 600 is a 64-bit value. The record identifier 600includes the virtual partition identifier segment 602, the sequentialidentifier segment 606, and buffer bits 604.

The virtual partition identifier 602 identifies the virtual partition towhich the data record is assigned. In some embodiments, the virtualpartition identifier 602 is a 12-bit segment within a 64-bit recordidentifier. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the least significant bitof the virtual partition identifier 602 is at the leftmost end of therecord identifier 600, with the more significant bits toward the right.As shown in FIG. 6, bit 0 of the virtual partition identifier 602, theleast significant bit, is on the leftmost end of the record identifier600, and the more significant bits are in positions to the right of bit0.

The sequential identifier 606 identifies the data record within thevirtual partition of the table to which the data record belongs. In someembodiments, the sequential identifier is a 32-bit segment within a64-bit record identifier. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the leastsignificant bit of the sequential identifier 606 is at the rightmost endof the record identifier 600, with the more significant bits toward theleft. As shown in FIG. 6, bit 0 of the sequential identifier 606, theleast significant bit, is on the rightmost end of the record identifier600, and the more significant bits are in positions to the left of bit0.

The record identifier 600 also includes a segment of buffer bits 604. Insome embodiments, the buffer bits are 20 bits long in a 64-bit recordidentifier; the buffer bits are the remaining bits after the 12-bitvirtual partition identifier and the 32-bit sequential identifier aresubtracted from the 64-bit record identifier. The number of virtualpartitions may be increased by taking bits from the buffer bits 604 thatare adjacent to the virtual partition identifier segment 602 andincorporating them into the virtual partition identifier segment 602. Inother words, the virtual partition identifier segment is expanded at theexpense of the buffer bits. This increases the number of availablevirtual partitions. Similarly, the size of virtual partitions may beincreased by taking bits from the buffer bits 604 that are adjacent tothe sequential identifier segment 606 and incorporating them into thesequential identifier segment 606. In other words, the sequentialidentifier segment is expanded at the expense of the buffer bits. Insome embodiments, the buffer bits of each record identifier are set to0. Only when buffer bits are reassigned to the virtual partitionidentifier 602 or the sequential identifier 606 are these bits assignedvalues other than zero.

However, it should be appreciated that expansions of the virtualpartition identifier and sequential identifier segment may be limited.Because of the differing arrangements of least and most significant bitsas described above, the expansions of the segments are inward, asindicated by the directions of the arrows in FIG. 6. Eventually, themost significant bits of the virtual partition identifier and sequentialidentifier segment will be adjacent to each other. At that point, nofurther expansion of the virtual partition identifier and sequentialidentifier segments is possible, unless the total number of bits in therecord identifier 600 is increased.

The format of the record identifier 600 is applicable to all tables; alldata records in all tables in the database have the same recordidentifier format and the same lengths for the virtual partitionidentifier and the sequential identifier. Thus, all tables of thedatabase have the same number of virtual partitions and the range ofsequential identifier values for all table-virtual partitions of thedatabase is the same.

In some embodiments, the data record identifier 600 uniquely identifiesa data record within a table, but not within the entire database. Inorder to uniquely identify a data record in the entire database, theidentity of the table to which the data record belongs is combined withthe data record identifier. For example, in order to uniquely identify adata record in a table of customer data, the identity of the customerdata table and the identifier of the data record are both needed. Thus,the unique identifier of a data record in the database is an identifierof the table to which the data record belongs and the data recordidentifier. In some other embodiments, at least some of the buffer bits604 in a data record identifier 600 may be used to identify the table towhich a data record belongs. This will make a data record identifier 600globally unique within the entire database.

As described above, the virtual partition assignment for a data recordis permanent. Furthermore, the sequential identifier allocated to a datarecord is permanent. Thus, the record identifier is permanent. Becausethe record identifier is permanent and does not change despite changesin the virtual partition-physical database mappings, a record identifierremains valid even as the corresponding data record is stored indifferent physical databases.

It should be appreciated that the record identifier described above ismerely exemplary. The record identifier may take on different forms. Forexample, in some embodiments, the record identifier of a data record maybe a combination of a string identifying the virtual partition and asequential identifier value. In this example, the unique identifier ofthe data record is a combination of an identifier of the table to whichthe data record belongs, the string identifying the virtual partition,and the sequential identifier value.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a virtual partition to physicaldatabase mapping in accordance with some embodiments. In someembodiments, the virtual partition to physical database mapping 700 maybe a table of virtual partitions 702 and mapped physical databases 704.In some other embodiments, the mapping may simply be a list of virtualpartition to physical database correspondences. Each virtual partitionmaps to a single physical database, but more than one virtual partitionmay be mapped to a particular physical database. In other words, avirtual partition cannot be associated with a plurality of physicaldatabases simultaneously, but a physical database may be associated withone or more virtual partitions simultaneously.

The mapping 700 is stored in each of the servers 108. A server 108creates the mapping 700 by polling each of the physical databases 110for the virtual partitions that are assigned to it. Based on theresponses from the physical databases, the server 108 generates themapping 700. The polling may be performed whenever the DBMS starts upand when additional physical databases are created.

A physical database may, at some point, become unavailable. Theunavailability may be caused by, among other things, a malfunction or adeliberate deactivation in order to perform system maintenance. As aresult, the virtual partitions assigned to that physical database areunavailable until the operation of the physical database is restored.However, the DBMS may continue functioning. When physical databases arepolled for their assigned virtual partitions, an unavailable physicaldatabase is unable to respond, and thus is not included in the mapping700. However, the unavailable physical database may be included in themapping 700 again after it becomes available and is polled.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a last data record table or last recordidentifier table 800 in accordance with some embodiments. Each physicaldatabase includes a last data record table. The last data record table800 tracks the next available sequential identifier value (or last usedsequential identifier value) per virtual partition per table, for allvirtual partitions mapped to the physical database. The last data recordtable 800 includes records 801 for each table-virtual partition in thephysical database. A record 801 identifies a corresponding table 802 andvirtual partition 804. Also in the record 801 is the next availablesequential identifier value 806 (or, alternately, the last usedsequential identifier value) for that table-virtual partition. Whenevera data record is inserted into a table of the database, a table-virtualpartition in which to store the data record is identified, and a recordidentifier is generated for the data record. The value used of thesequential identifier segment of the record identifier for the new datarecord is the next available sequential identifier value for thattable-virtual partition.

In some embodiments, the next available sequential identifier value 806for that table-virtual partition is incremented, so that the next datarecord to be added to the table-virtual partition gets the incrementedvalue. For example, if a data record is added to table A and assigned tovirtual partition 0, the data record would get the sequential identifiervalue of 63. The next data record added to table A and assigned tovirtual partition 0 will get the sequential identifier value of 64. Insome other embodiments, the identifier values 806 for a record 801 neednot actually be sequential as long as the identifier values aredistinct. For example, the next available identifier values 806 for arecord 801 may be encrypted values that are not necessarily sequential.More generally, the identifier values 806 for a record 801 may begenerated by any suitable scheme as long as the values are distinct atleast with respect to the table-virtual partition corresponding to therecord 801.

As described above in relation to FIG. 3, the last data record table orlast record identifier table is partitioned amongst the virtualpartitions of the database and the partitions are stored in the physicaldatabases. Each record 801 in the last data record table 800 is assignedto a virtual partition. More particularly, each record 801 is assignedto the virtual partition that is identified in the corresponding virtualpartition field 804.

Whenever a new table is added to the database, the table is subject tothe virtual partitioning. The table is assigned to virtual partitionsand the data in the table are stored in at least a subset of thephysical databases based on the virtual partition assignments. A record801 corresponding to the new table is added to the last data recordtable 800 for each virtual partition.

FIG. 9 illustrates a physical database computer 900 in accordance withsome embodiments. The physical database computer 900 may correspond toone of the physical databases 110 shown in FIG. 1, and typicallyincludes one or more processing units or CPU's 902, one or more networkor other communications interfaces 904, memory 906, and one or morecommunication buses 908 for interconnecting these components. Thecommunication buses 908 may include circuitry (sometimes called achipset) that interconnects and controls communications between systemcomponents. The physical database computer 900 optionally may include auser interface comprising a display device and a keyboard (not shown).Memory 906 (which may comprise or include a computer readable storagemedium) includes random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM orother random access solid state memory devices; and may includenon-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices,optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or othernon-volatile solid state storage devices. Memory 906 may optionallyinclude one or more storage devices remotely located from the CPU(s)902. In some embodiments, memory 906 stores the following programs,modules and data structures, or a subset thereof:

-   -   an operating system 910 that includes procedures for handling        various basic system services and for performing hardware        dependent tasks;    -   a network communication module 912 that is used for connecting        the physical database computer 900 to other computers via the        one or more communication network interfaces 904 (wired or        wireless), such as the Internet, other wide area networks, local        area networks, metropolitan area networks, and so on;    -   database data records 914; and    -   a last data record table 916 for storing next available        sequential identifier values (or last used sequential identifier        values) for those table-virtual partitions that are stored in        the physical database services by this computer 900; the last        data record table 916 is partitioned in accordance with the same        virtual partitions that are used to partition the data tables in        the database.

Each of the above identified elements may be stored in one or more ofthe previously mentioned memory devices, and corresponds to a set ofinstructions for performing a function described above. The aboveidentified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need not beimplemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, andthus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwisere-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 906 maystore a subset of the modules and data structures identified above.Furthermore, memory 906 may store additional modules and data structuresnot described above.

Although FIG. 9 shows a “physical database computer,” FIG. 9 is intendedmore as functional description of the various features which may bepresent in a set of servers than as a structural schematic of theembodiments described herein. In practice, and as recognized by those ofordinary skill in the art, items shown separately could be combined andsome items could be separated.

FIG. 10 illustrates a server computer 1000 in accordance with someembodiments. The server computer 1000 may correspond to one of theservers 108 shown in FIG. 1, and typically includes one or moreprocessing units or CPU's 1002, one or more network or othercommunications interfaces 1004, memory 1006, and one or morecommunication buses 1008 for interconnecting these components. Thecommunication buses 1008 may include circuitry (sometimes called achipset) that interconnects and controls communications between systemcomponents. The server computer 1000 optionally may include a userinterface comprising a display device and a keyboard (not shown). Memory1006 (which may comprise or include a computer readable storage medium)includes random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or otherrandom access solid state memory devices; and may include non-volatilememory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical diskstorage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid statestorage devices. Memory 1006 may optionally include one or more storagedevices remotely located from the CPU(s) 1002. In some embodiments,memory 1006 stores the following programs, modules and data structures,or a subset thereof:

-   -   an operating system 1010 that includes procedures for handling        various basic system services and for performing hardware        dependent tasks;    -   a network communication module 1012 that is used for connecting        the server computer 1000 to other computers via the one or more        communication network interfaces 1004 (wired or wireless), such        as the Internet, other wide area networks, local area networks,        metropolitan area networks, and so on;    -   a virtual partition—physical database mapping 1014 for mapping        virtual partitions to physical databases;    -   a physical database polling module 1016 for polling physical        databases regarding associated virtual partitions and generating        the virtual partition—physical database mapping.

Each of the above identified elements may be stored in one or more ofthe previously mentioned memory devices, and corresponds to a set ofinstructions for performing a function described above. The aboveidentified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need not beimplemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, andthus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwisere-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, the memory 1006may store a subset of the modules and data structures identified above.Furthermore, the memory 1006 may store additional modules and datastructures not described above.

Although FIG. 10 shows a “server computer,” FIG. 10 is intended more asfunctional description of the various features which may be present in aset of servers than as a structural schematic of the embodimentsdescribed herein. In practice, and as recognized by those of ordinaryskill in the art, items shown separately could be combined and someitems could be separated.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modificationsand variations are possible in view of the above teachings. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, to therebyenable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention andvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

1. (canceled)
 2. A method for increasing a first number of virtualpartitions in a database comprising: a computer program stored in amemory within a computer, the computer comprising a processor, thecomputer program accessing the database with the first number of virtualpartitions, wherein accessing the database comprises mapping each of thefirst number of virtual partitions to one of a plurality of physicaldatabases, the plurality of physical databases together forming thedatabase; the computer program associating a record identifier with eachof a plurality of data records, the record identifier comprising avirtual partition identifier corresponding to one of the first number ofvirtual partitions in the database to which a data record of theplurality of data records is assigned; the computer program, in responseto an increase in the first number of virtual partitions to a secondnumber of virtual partitions, increasing a number of bits used in thevirtual partition identifier without increasing a length of the recordidentifier associated with each of the plurality of data records.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the step of increasing the number of bitsused in the virtual partition identifier comprises using a bit from aplurality of buffer bits included in the record identifier.
 4. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the record identifier further comprises asequential identifier that identifies the data record within the virtualpartition.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the computer program, inresponse to an increase in the size of the virtual partition, increasingthe number of bits used in the sequential identifier without increasingthe length of the record identifier associated with the plurality ofdata records by adding a bit to the sequential identifier from aplurality of buffer bits included in the record identifier.
 6. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the virtual partition identifier is locatedin a first segment of the record identifier and a second segment of therecord identifier comprises a sequential identifier for the data record.7. The method of claim 6, wherein one of the virtual partitionidentifier and the sequential identifier has a least significant bit ata leftmost end and one of the virtual partition identifier and thesequential identifier has a least significant bit at a rightmost end. 8.The method of claim 2, wherein at least two of the virtual partitionsare mapped to a same one of the physical databases.
 9. A systemcomprising: a memory; a processor; and a computer program stored in thememory and configured to be executed by the processor, the computerprogram comprising: instructions for accessing a database with a firstnumber of virtual partitions, wherein accessing the database comprisingmapping each of the first number of virtual partitions to one of aplurality of physical databases, the plurality of physical databasestogether forming the database; instructions for associating a recordidentifier with each of a plurality of data records, the recordidentifier comprising a virtual partition identifier corresponding toone of the first number of virtual partitions in the database to which adata record of the plurality of data records is assigned; andinstructions for, in response to an increase in the first number ofvirtual partitions to a second number of virtual partitions, increasinga number of bits used in the virtual partition identifier withoutincreasing a length of the record identifier associated with each of theplurality of data records.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein theinstructions for increasing the number of bits used in the virtualpartition identifier comprise instructions for using a bit from aplurality of buffer bits included in the record identifier.
 11. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein the record identifier further comprises asequential identifier that identifies the data record within the virtualpartition.
 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising: instructionsfor, in response to an increase in the size of the virtual partition,increasing the number of bits used in the sequential identifier withoutincreasing the length of the record identifier associated with theplurality of data records by adding a bit to the sequential identifierfrom a plurality of buffer bits included in the record identifier. 13.The system of claim 9, wherein the virtual partition identifier islocated in a first segment of the record identifier and a second segmentof the record identifier comprises a sequential identifier for the datarecord.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein one of the virtual partitionidentifier and the sequential identifier has a least significant bit ata leftmost end and one of the virtual partition identifier and thesequential identifier has a least significant bit at a rightmost end.15. The system of claim 9, wherein at least two of the virtualpartitions are mapped to a same one of the physical databases.
 16. Acomputer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system,the computer program product comprising a computer readable storagemedium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein, the computerprogram mechanism comprising: instructions for accessing a database witha first number of virtual partitions, wherein accessing the databasecomprising mapping each of the first number of virtual partitions to oneof a plurality of physical databases, the plurality of physicaldatabases together forming the database; instructions for associating arecord identifier with each of a plurality of data records, the recordidentifier comprising a virtual partition identifier corresponding toone of the first number of virtual partitions in the database to which adata record of the plurality of data records is assigned; andinstructions for, in response to an increase in the first number ofvirtual partitions to a second number of virtual partitions, increasinga number of bits used in the virtual partition identifier withoutincreasing a length of the record identifier associated with each of theplurality of data records.
 17. The computer program product of claim 16,wherein the instructions for increasing the number of bits used in thevirtual partition identifier comprise instructions for using a bit froma plurality of buffer bits included in the record identifier.
 18. Thecomputer program product of claim 16, wherein the record identifierfurther comprises a sequential identifier that identifies the datarecord within the virtual partition.
 19. The computer program product ofclaim 18, further comprising: instructions for, in response to anincrease in the size of the virtual partition, increasing the number ofbits used in the sequential identifier without increasing the length ofthe record identifier associated with the plurality of data records byadding a bit to the sequential identifier from a plurality of bufferbits included in the record identifier.
 20. The computer program productof claim 16, wherein the virtual partition identifier is located in afirst segment of the record identifier and a second segment of therecord identifier comprises a sequential identifier for the data record.21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein one of the virtualpartition identifier and the sequential identifier has a leastsignificant bit at a leftmost end and one of the virtual partitionidentifier and the sequential identifier has a least significant bit ata rightmost end.